Overview
SourcedGuard inmates in penal or rehabilitative institutions in accordance with established regulations and procedures. May guard prisoners in transit between jail, courtroom, prison, or other point. Includes deputy sheriffs and police who spend the majority of their time guarding prisoners in correctional institutions.
O*NET definition of Correctional Officers and Jailers (SOC 33-3012) · Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed.
Occupation figures cover every job classified under SOC 33-3012, including Federal Correctional Officer (BOP).
Titles employers use
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership; U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database; GovJobs Wiki (editorial). Data captured September 30, 2026.
Requirements
Sourced- Education needed to enter
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
Education workers say the job requires
Share of surveyed workers in Correctional Officers and Jailers (SOC 33-3012) naming each level as required to be hired, 25 respondents, O*NET survey August 2023. Each employer sets its own minimum.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35 — education and training assignments by detailed occupation (Tables 5.3, 5.4); U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database. Data captured September 30, 2026.
How to get hired
SourcedCorrectional officers and bailiffs typically need a high school diploma to enter their occupation. They typically go to a training academy and then are assigned to a facility, where they receive on-the-job training. Although qualifications vary by state and agency, many agencies have an age requirement for correctional officers. Some federal agencies also require officers to have a bachelor's degree or related work experience.
From the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile “Correctional Officers and Bailiffs”, published August 27, 2026 · Read the full profile. National guidance; each employer runs its own hiring process.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–35 edition (XML compilation). Data captured September 30, 2026.
Academy and training
Sourced- SOC 33-3012
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job zone
- Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Academy length, curriculum and paid-training policies are set by each employer and state; they are part of the employer collection stage.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35 — education and training assignments by detailed occupation (Tables 5.3, 5.4). Data captured September 30, 2026.
Promotion ladder
EditorialRank and step: paramilitary rank × time-in-service step (officer → sergeant → lieutenant → captain …). Typical structure for a corrections department; titles, steps and timing differ by employer.
- Correctional Officer Trainee
- Correctional Officer I
- Correctional Officer II / Senior
- Sergeant
- Lieutenant
- Captain
- Major
- Assistant Warden / Deputy Warden
- Warden
Source: GovJobs Wiki (editorial).
Pay
SourcedMedian annual wage by employer type, national, May 2025. Federal includes the U.S. Postal Service; state and local include public schools and hospitals.
| Employer type | Workers | 10th pct. | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal | 14,180 | $56,890 | $66,390 | $74,630 | $81,270 | $87,190 |
| State | 191,980 | $46,120 | $50,390 | $59,990 | $77,460 | $98,730 |
| Local | 157,170 | $37,910 | $46,830 | $58,500 | $74,540 | $93,220 |
| All government | 363,330 | $43,160 | $48,960 | $59,490 | $76,370 | $93,590 |
| Private sector | 17,160 | $37,420 | $43,320 | $48,020 | $57,280 | $65,110 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Schedule
SourcedShare of surveyed workers in the occupation (O*NET work context, August 2023). Shift patterns and differentials depend on the employer.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Day-to-day work
Sourced- Conduct head counts to ensure that each prisoner is present.4.7
- Inspect conditions of locks, window bars, grills, doors, and gates at correctional facilities to ensure security and help prevent escapes.4.6
- Monitor conduct of prisoners in housing unit, or during work or recreational activities, according to established policies, regulations, and procedures, to prevent escape or violence.4.6
- Search prisoners and vehicles and conduct shakedowns of cells for valuables and contraband, such as weapons or drugs.4.5
- Guard facility entrances to screen visitors.4.5
- Record information, such as prisoner identification, charges, and incidents of inmate disturbance, keeping daily logs of prisoner activities.4.5
- Inspect mail for the presence of contraband.4.4
- Maintain records of prisoners' identification and charges.4.4
- Use weapons, handcuffs, and physical force to maintain discipline and order among prisoners.4.3
- Use nondisciplinary tools and equipment, such as a computer.4.3
The 10 most important of 21 core tasks for Correctional Officers and Jailers, ranked by importance (1–5) in the O*NET survey of August 2023.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Related jobs
DerivedExams and free practice tests
Sourced| Exam | Administered by | Used in | Type | Official page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BSCC Selection Exam (Adult Corrections Officer, Juvenile Corrections Officer, Probation Officer) Single entry-level exam for three local-corrections classifications; about 2.5 hours; multiple-choice questions on basic knowledge, skills and abilities. | California Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC), Standards and Training for Corrections | CA | written | Official page |
| REACT Adult Corrections Officer Exam About 2 hours; video Human Relations Test, Reading Test, video Count Test (10 seconds per question) and Incident Observation and Report Writing Test. | National Testing Network (NTN) | US | written | Official page |
| TCOLE State Licensing Examinations (Basic Peace Officer, Basic County Corrections, Telecommunicator) Peace Officer: 250 questions, 180 minutes; County Corrections: 100 questions, 105 minutes; Telecommunicator: 80 questions, 90 minutes; must be taken within 180 days of completing the basic course. | Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) | TX | licensing | Official page |
Each exam is checked against its administrator's official page. Employers choose which exam they use; confirm with the hiring agency.
Source: Exam administrators and hiring authorities (per record), Official exam administrator pages. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Free practice tests
Corrections Officer Entrance ExaminationEntrance or licensing exam · free on Open Exam Prep- NTN REACT Adult Corrections Officer ExamPractice for a named exam · free on Open Exam Prep
State versions: 3 states. Pick yours:
Source: Open Exam Prep, Open Exam Prep free practice tests. Data captured October 1, 2026. Each link was opened and its exam title checked on the date shown.
Employer directory
Sourced2,985 sheriff's offices. County sheriff's offices in the FBI's law-enforcement agency list. States with the most:
As reported by each employer to its federal registry.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Crime Data Explorer — law-enforcement agencies by state (API). Data captured September 30, 2026.
By state
SourcedMedian annual wage for Correctional Officers and Jailers (SOC 33-3012) in each state, all employers (BLS state estimates do not separate government from private). Highest first.
| State | Workers | 10th pct. | Median | 90th pct. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 37,860 | $63,380 | $96,370 | $114,730 |
| New Jersey | 7,570 | $51,410 | $94,770 | $106,570 |
| Massachusetts | 6,360 | $63,520 | $86,310 | $101,620 |
| Oregon | 3,650 | $64,200 | $83,690 | $95,820 |
| Washington | 6,800 | $64,460 | $79,460 | $95,430 |
| Illinois | 12,190 | $50,520 | $79,190 | $102,770 |
| New York | 27,770 | $58,940 | $76,820 | $93,220 |
| Nevada | 3,240 | $62,150 | $76,490 | $102,610 |
| Wisconsin | 7,360 | $56,540 | $73,470 | $92,140 |
| Alaska | 850 | $60,340 | $71,360 | $94,930 |
| Hawaii | 1,310 | $64,250 | $69,570 | $82,240 |
| Utah | 2,050 | $47,700 | $67,290 | $84,680 |
| Minnesota | 5,350 | $54,060 | $66,040 | $82,380 |
| Delaware | 1,730 | $46,520 | $65,880 | $79,260 |
| Connecticut | 3,780 | $55,520 | $64,750 | $70,710 |
| Maryland | 6,060 | $53,100 | $64,250 | $82,280 |
| Michigan | 8,220 | $47,360 | $64,020 | $77,990 |
| Pennsylvania | 15,560 | $46,840 | $63,460 | $85,630 |
| Nebraska | 3,250 | $47,630 | $63,380 | $78,270 |
| Colorado | 7,290 | $52,370 | $62,140 | $87,690 |
| New Hampshire | 680 | $47,480 | $61,360 | $82,240 |
| Ohio | 12,610 | $46,930 | $59,370 | $68,060 |
| Kansas | 3,380 | $37,000 | $56,120 | $64,940 |
| Arizona | 14,230 | $45,620 | $54,970 | $65,030 |
| Wyoming | 920 | $50,340 | $54,780 | $71,010 |
| Vermont | 450 | $46,010 | $53,810 | $71,660 |
| Idaho | 2,370 | $45,430 | $53,580 | $74,720 |
| Iowa | 3,440 | $47,670 | $53,040 | $73,530 |
| South Dakota | 1,490 | $43,240 | $53,040 | $66,390 |
| West Virginia | 2,980 | $45,390 | $52,890 | $75,610 |
| Maine | 1,090 | $44,640 | $52,730 | $60,510 |
| Texas | 44,700 | $44,870 | $52,670 | $60,550 |
| North Dakota | 1,290 | $47,580 | $52,460 | $62,870 |
| Tennessee | 6,990 | $38,690 | $50,940 | $62,790 |
| North Carolina | 11,900 | $38,850 | $50,550 | $63,150 |
| Virginia | 11,270 | $46,320 | $50,140 | $70,570 |
| Florida | 24,280 | $45,760 | $49,710 | $80,500 |
| Montana | 1,430 | $44,690 | $49,180 | $62,730 |
| Indiana | 8,060 | $41,670 | $48,340 | $61,840 |
| New Mexico | 2,740 | $37,900 | $47,940 | $59,330 |
| South Carolina | 4,870 | $40,090 | $47,890 | $71,390 |
| Georgia | 10,640 | $36,820 | $47,520 | $58,430 |
| Alabama | 4,970 | $30,430 | $46,660 | $74,290 |
| Oklahoma | 3,730 | $34,530 | $45,690 | $58,380 |
| Missouri | 6,670 | $37,210 | $42,620 | $63,940 |
| Kentucky | 6,770 | $29,910 | $42,310 | $61,820 |
| Arkansas | 4,460 | $31,200 | $40,330 | $49,360 |
| Louisiana | 7,960 | $30,770 | $39,850 | $55,260 |
| Mississippi | 4,040 | $27,540 | $38,720 | $55,580 |
49 states with published estimates.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Not yet collected
These dimensions are part of every job page. We publish them only once they are sourced from official documents such as job postings, pay plans, union contracts and state standards.
- 05 ProbationNot yet collectedProbation length and what ends it
- 09 Benefits and pensionNot yet collectedPension plan and formula, retirement age and years, DROP, retiree health, Social Security coverage, 457(b) and PSLF eligibility
- 10 Union contractsNot yet collectedBargaining unit, union and the current contract, with its source and effective dates
- 11 Transfers and lateral entryNot yet collectedLateral entry policy, certification reciprocity, lateral bonuses and moves between agencies